diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
index ca8d55310..b367fe25f 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
@@ -286,7 +286,12 @@ public class Communicator
         // total failure
         Log.getLog(this).warning("socket error: " + event);
         Log.dumpStack();
-        shutdown(new Error("socket closed unexpectedly."));
+        if (_socket.connected) {
+            Log.getLog(this).info("Things seem ok. Ignoring.");
+
+        } else {
+            shutdown(new Error("socket closed unexpectedly."));
+        }
     }
 
     /**